Connector and inspection tool

Abstract

Locking lances (12) for retaining and locking terminal fittings (60) are deflectably provided at inner walls of cavities (11) of a housing (10). The housing (10) includes excessive deflection regulating pieces (13) each provided at a position facing the locking lance (12) in a deflecting direction of the locking lance (12) and configured to regulate excessive deflection of the locking lance (12). Locking lances (12) are provided side by side in a width direction perpendicular to an inserting direction of the terminal fittings (60). A plurality of the excessive deflection regulating pieces (13) are provided side by side in the width direction at positions corresponding to the locking lances (12) and have also a function of positioning an inspection tool (70) for inspecting an inserted state of the terminal fittings (60).

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention relates to a connector and an inspection tool therefor.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,735 discloses a connector with a housing that has cavities, and a deflectable locking lance projects forward at an inner wall of each cavity. A terminal fitting is inserted into each cavity from behind, and the properly inserted terminal fitting is retained and locked by the locking lance.[0005]The cavities and the locking lances are provided side by side in a width direction that is perpendicular to an inserting direction of the terminal fittings into each cavity. A detection piece of a retainer is inserted into a deflection space for each locking lance in the housing and is provided with an excessive deflection regulating portion. If the terminal fitting is left incompletely inserted, a tip part of the locking lance contacts the excessive deflection preventing portion when the retainer is inserted. In t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The inspection tool for inspecting the inserted state of the terminal fittings is positioned by the excessive deflection regulating pieces. Thus, the housing need not have dedicated positioning portions and the structure of the housing is not complicated. Particularly, since the excessive deflection regulating pieces are provided side by side in the width direction at the positions corresponding to the locking lances, a displacement of the inspection tool is suppressed and inspection reliability can be maintained high.

[0010]The excessive deflection regulating piece is provided for each of the locking lances juxtaposed in the width direction. Thus, the inspection tool is guided by each excessive deflection regulating piece during inspection to enhance positioning reliability.

[0011]The excessive deflection regulating pieces may be divided into plural sets. Each set may have plural mutually adjacent excessive deflection regulating pieces, and an interval between adjacent excessive deflection regulating pieces in each set is smaller than an interval between the excessive deflection regulating pieces mutually adjacent between adjacent sets. The inspection tool may have positioning holes into which the excessive deflection regulating pieces in the set are inserted. Thus, a large wall thickness corresponding to the interval between the excessive deflection regulating pieces mutually adjacent between the adjacent sets can be ensured for outer side walls of the inspection tool arranged at opposite widthwise sides of the positioning holes. As a result, the strength of the inspection tool can be improved and, consequently, it is possible to miniaturize the inspection tool.

[0012]The inspection tool for the connector configured as described above includes positioning holes into which the individual excessive deflection regulating pieces are inserted. Accordingly, an inspection tool with a predetermined strength can be ensured and it is possible to miniaturize.

Problems solved by technology

Additionally, relative positions of the terminal fitting and the inspection tool easily are displaced from a proper position at the time of inspection.

A displacement of the relative positions of the terminal fitting and the inspection tool from the proper position may adversely affect inspection reliability.

A housing may have positioning portions for positioning the inspection tool, but this complicates the housing.

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